Meals for cancer patients, advice please

AwMyLoLo

Hello :flowerforyou: . A long-time family friend of ours is currently undergoing radiation treatments for lung cancer. One thing she was having difficulty with is having the energy to cook meals for her disabled husband, and herself. She was upset because he was eating poorly because she couldn't cook dinner. We have started scheduling days to take her meals that she can just warm up for lunch and dinner. Of course we're all making casseroles, but I am hoping to get some more suggestions for healthy meals that they both can enjoy. I know radiation can be hard on your throat and mouth, so nothing spicy, or tough. I am taking her a chicken casserole with broccoli, cheese and biscuits. I think she'll like it, but might get sick of cheese casseroles pretty quickly!

Thanks :flowerforyou:

karensoxfan

I'm so sorry that your friend is fighting lung cancer. My dad is fighting it too, and it's NOT pretty.

Early in his treatments when he could still eat pretty normally, I cooked a LOT for him. Here are some of the things I made:

Meatloaf & mashed potatoes
Spaghetti casserole (I've posted the recipe here if you search for it) - it's a twist on baked ziti
Scallopped Potatoes (homemade) w/stuffed chicken breast (pre-made)
Pulled Pork Sandwiches (nice & tender, cooked in the slow cooker)
French Toast (I made this fresh, but it can be made in advance & reheated too, or made into a casserole)
Quiche (whatever fillings your friend likes)
Apple Pie
Lemon Meringue Pie

My dad ended up with severe esophogitis, and his chemo has really demolished his appetite & taste buds, so he's on a feeding tube now (at night), and really only wants cereal, toast, yogurt, pudding, oatmeal, cream of wheat, and occasional grilled cheese or macaroni & cheese now.

Homemade mac & cheese would be good too, or tuna casserole, and pre-made sandwiches (even just PB&J) would be a nice treat for your friend to eat in a pinch without having to spend energy preparing it.

As you can tell, the subject is near & dear to me, and I hope some of these ideas help. If you want to have a friend who can relate to what you're going through, please feel free to send me an invite.

Take care, and I'll pray that your friend's treatments are successful.

karensoxfan

Oh, and banana bread & muffins. Any quickbreads are nice to bring for breakfasts that offer a little variety.

My dad was also a big fan of tuna salad & chicken salad (either in sandwiches or plain).

12by311

When my mom had chemo and radiation, she *really* enjoyed smoothies. You can incorporate fruits and even veggies in the smoothie recipe. But especially when she was taking radiation...she liked the cooling sensation of the smoothie.

You are very nice to help your neighbor out.

And Karensoxfan - so sorry you are going through that with your father! So not easy....

TrainingWithTonya

I would have to look in my recipe books to get you some casserole recipes, and I'm not where I can do that right now. But here are some tips for helping with cancer recovery through nutrition. Maybe some of the recommended foods will trigger some ideas of recipes you already have.

Antioxidants help with fighting cancer. They can be found in the following:

Tomatoes
Bright Red, Orange, and Yellow fruits and veggies
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Brussels Sprouts
Garlic
Onion

TrainingWithTonya

Wasn't done but my cat stepped on my track pad and clicked post reply. LOL

Here's more info for you, copied from my Advanced Nutritional Therapy notes.

Things to do to help treat various problems with Cancer recovery.

Anorexia/Lack of desire to eat
Small, frequent , palatable meals
High-calorie, high-protein, nutrient-dense

Constipation
Adequate fluids
Whole grains (fiber), fruits, vegetables

Dysphagia/Inability to comfortably swallow food
Liquid, pureed, soft consistency

Diarrhea
Low fiber, low fat, lactose-free

Nausea/vomiting
Dry, non-greasy, bland

Nutrient Specific Recommendations for Cancer Patients

Energy
25-35 kcal /kg/day
Influenced by body weight, physical activity, metabolic stress

Goal
Maintain or increase weight
Healthy weight gain = 1-2 lb/week (+500-1,000 kcal/day)
Spare protein (WBC production, tissue repair)


Protein
Healthy adults = 0.8 g/kg/day
Cancer patients = 1.0 – 2.5 g/kg/day

Fat
Enough to meet high energy requirement without causing issues above

Vitamins/Minerals
B-vitamins (energy production)
Antioxidants (immune function)
Vitamin D (bone health)
Ca+ (bone health)
Fe+ (anemia)
Na+, K+ (electrolyte balance)
Zinc (healing)

Fluids
Replace losses (vomiting/diarrhea)
Excrete wastes (catabolism, chemotherapy)

karensoxfan

I almost forgot, my dad's nutritionist also recommended 2-3 Boost or Ensure daily (the one with extra protein & calories for weight gain), so I used to bring over cases of them from BJ's, so he'd always have them on hand.

They're best served very cold, and my dad said both chocolate & vanilla tasted OK. He didn't like the strawberry flavor (too sweet), and I never saw it in cases anyway. The vanilla ones especially could be mixed with fruit to make an easy smoothie too.

AwMyLoLo

I'm so sorry that your friend is fighting lung cancer. My dad is fighting it too, and it's NOT pretty.

Early in his treatments when he could still eat pretty normally, I cooked a LOT for him. Here are some of the things I made:

Meatloaf & mashed potatoes
Spaghetti casserole (I've posted the recipe here if you search for it) - it's a twist on baked ziti
Scallopped Potatoes (homemade) w/stuffed chicken breast (pre-made)
Pulled Pork Sandwiches (nice & tender, cooked in the slow cooker)
French Toast (I made this fresh, but it can be made in advance & reheated too, or made into a casserole)
Quiche (whatever fillings your friend likes)
Apple Pie
Lemon Meringue Pie

My dad ended up with severe esophogitis, and his chemo has really demolished his appetite & taste buds, so he's on a feeding tube now (at night), and really only wants cereal, toast, yogurt, pudding, oatmeal, cream of wheat, and occasional grilled cheese or macaroni & cheese now.

Homemade mac & cheese would be good too, or tuna casserole, and pre-made sandwiches (even just PB&J) would be a nice treat for your friend to eat in a pinch without having to spend energy preparing it.

As you can tell, the subject is near & dear to me, and I hope some of these ideas help. If you want to have a friend who can relate to what you're going through, please feel free to send me an invite.

Take care, and I'll pray that your friend's treatments are successful.

Thank you so much for your suggestions and kind words. I am also sorry you and your father are going through this.

AwMyLoLo

Thank you guys!! :flowerforyou:

karensoxfan

Thank you so much for your suggestions and kind words. I am also sorry you and your father are going through this.

Thank you. It's hard, but worth the effort.